South African players hit by bans

The two South African players charged with foul play during Saturday's epic clash between South Africa and the British Lions in Pretoria have received bans as a result of their offences.

Schalk Burger, the Springbok flanker, was suspended for eight weeks for attempting to gouge the eyes of Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald, while lock Bakkies Botha got a two-week ban for a challenge that dislocated the shoulder of Lions prop Adam Jones.

Burger's offence was described by Wales and Lions scrum half Mike Phillips as “a clear red card [offence]. You can’t do things like that, it’s disgusting.” But the South Africa coach Peter de Villiers dismissed complaints against his player.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
David Hands, the Times: "The Lions have been left with feelings of outrage, at what their players perceive to be a failure by the match officials, and for the Lions management over the reaction of Peter de Villiers, the South Africa coach, to Burger’s actions. De Villiers claimed after the match that there was no justification for a card at all and that it was “all part of sport”, but the coach is already in hot water and has been summoned to a meeting with Oregan Hoskins, the president of SA Rugby, to explain comments made last week that could be taken as racist in content."

Gavin Mairs, Daily Telegraph: "Yet it seems that not even hefty suspensions are acting as a deterrent for those who try to gain an advantage by sticking their fingers into the eyes of their opponents, despite the risk of causing serious impairment to their sight or even blindness. Northampton flanker Neil Best was hit with an 18-week ban last September after being found guilty of gouging James Haskell during Northampton's victory over Wasps. The Saints hooker, Dylan Hartley, was suspended for 26 weeks in 2007 after being cited for two counts of gouging, also against Wasps."

Shaun Edwards, the Guardian: "Injuries are part and parcel of rugby. That's understood and broadly accepted. The Lions changing room after Saturday's game at Loftus Versfeld looked more like a casualty ward. Gethin Jenkins was suffering from a fractured cheekbone, Adam Jones had a dislocated shoulder that would not pop back into place, Brian O'Driscoll was concussed, Ronan O'Gara had a deep wound near his eye and Jamie Roberts and Tommy Bowe were nursing their wrists and shoulders. But that, by and large, is accepted as a consequence of playing a physical sport. What is not acceptable is when a player tosses aside the discipline and control without which rugby could become unpalatable."